Because being healthy should be fun.

Bao Chick-a Bao Wao

So here’s the thing: there are a few dishes that I just won’t bother cooking. Buffalo wings (the bars have that one covered), doughnuts (bakeries have those covered), beef stock (boxes have that covered)…

Most of the time it’s because I don’t have the proper equipment, and I’m not about to go out and buy a deep fryer because just imagine how much trouble that would get me in, or it’s just too time consuming and/or complicated.

Or there’s just too much majesty in the dish for me to risk f’in it up by blindly attempting my own version.

My latest Trader Joe’s discovery-of-the-week were these frozen bao.

If you’ve never heard of bao, they’re steamed Asian buns filled with meat and/or vegetables. The dough is almost a little bit sweet, and so fluffy it’ll make you want to close your eyes and reflect on things like kittens, marshmallow fluff and Snuggles the bear.

In all likelihood, bao is not something that I will ever attempt on my own.

For one thing, I’m not a dough maker. A dougher, if you will. I don’t get the same joy out of kneading as some people do.

And just look how perfect they are!

Why would I go and possibly screw this up when I now know that I can buy 4 of them for $2.99 at Trader Joe’s?

Thank you once again, TJ’s, for eliminating all the problems in my life.

There is this adorable little old Chinese lady who makes these and sells them at the farmers market. The ones with the red bean paste (its sweet!) in them were my favorite. I tried to tell her to make gluten free ones last summer, but she kept looking at me like I had a horn coming out of my forehead so I gave up.

I LOVE bao. Those and shrimp & pork dumplings are the only things I like about dim sum. I never even considered getting a frozen version! Yet another reason why I’m depressed there’s no TJ’s in Canada…

I have no desire to ever cook lobster… that’s definitely something I’ll leave to the pros 😉

Yes, it’s called Wow Bao, and I love that place! It’s a Lettuce Entertain you restaurant actually, so it’s just in Chicago (they do have 3 locations, though!). They’re bbq pork and kung pao chicken bao are especially delicious. 🙂